Staff
Council agreed to form a new committee to review its travel policy at Tuesdsay night’s regular meeting.
“According to our bylaw, there should be a yearly review of our travel policy regarding interest on travel costs,” noted Mayor Roy Avis.
“We’re also going to be taking a look at some of the per diem charges.”
The mayor appointed Couns. Ken Perry, Paul Ryan, and Rick Wiedenhoeft to the committee, along with Human Resources manager Christine Ruppenstein, deputy treasure Debbie Scofield, and clerk Glenn Treftlin.
The travel policy was last revised in the spring of 2010.
In other news, council will consider a request from the residents of Green Manor to have reserved parking spaces on Shevlin Avenue in front of their building.
Council received a letter from Ruth Olson, on behalf of Green Manor residents, noting they would like to see a couple of signs put to reserve parking spaces.
She added these spaces would enable the medi-van, ambulance, or other vehicles to pick up or drop off residents without any interference from other vehicles parking there.
The situation becomes more difficult when winter comes and there are snowbanks.
Olson noted there is a lot of traffic on Shevlin Avenue and no sidewalks, so going straight out through the front door to the reserved parking spaces would be much safer and handier.
Council referred the request to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, council:
•endorsed an Ontario Trillium Foundation community grant application to renovate the foundation of Russell Hall at Sunny Cove Camp;
•entered into an amended agreement for Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Services (MHSW) with Stewardship Ontario;
•received Minutes of Settlement for 400 Scott St. (2012);
•agreed to a recommendation of the Administration and Finance executive committee to receive the request for a $1,200 donation to offset the Sunny Cove rental fees for the OPP North West Region Youth Summer Camps held there this summer and in 2011, and take no further action;
•authorized administration to address the technology component of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fort Frances Public Library staff (i.e., whether the library or town is responsible for IT support) and then forward the amended MOU to the library board;
•approved travel and per diem claims for Mayor Roy Avis, re: NOMA regional conference in Thunder Bay (Sept. 26-27), in the amount of $692.74;
•approved travel and per diem claims for Coun. John Albanese in the amount of $968.24 (for attendance at the NOMA conference and the Sept. 19 meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association in Emo);
•approved travel and per diem claim for Coun. Andrew Hallikas in the amount of $1,145.74 (for attendance at NOMA and RRDMA);
•approved travel and per diem claims for Coun. Paul Ryan in the amount of $680.74 (for attendance at NOMA);
•approved a per diem claim in the amount of $75 for Coun. Sharon Tibbs (for attendance at RRDMA);
•approved a per diem claim in the amount of $871.49 for Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft (for attendance at NOMA and RRDMA);
•endorsed a resolution stating that an asset management plan is not currently in place, and the development of such a plan that includes all the information and analysis described in “Building Together: A Guide for Municipal Asset Management Plans” is a priority for the town, and that a copy of the resolution be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs prior to Oct. 22;
•authorized the purchase of 4,649 dozen flowers from Lowey’s Greenhouse & Market Gardens at a cost of $11,102 (taxes extra);
•received an invitation to council from D. Hicks, president of Friends of the Fort Frances Museum, to attend the group’s fall soireé and fundraiser gala at the museum on Thursday, Nov. 1;
•approved a break-open ticket licence from La Verendrye General Hospital Auxiliary at Sunset Schmiddy’s for the period Nov. 2, 2012-April 30, 2013;
•referred a budget request from M. Ahrens, re: need for tree replacement, to the 2013 budget process;
•referred a budget request from J. Steinke, re: assessment of conditions of certain storm sewer catch basins, to the 2013 budget process;
•proclaimed Nov. 5-11, 2012 as “Poppy Week” in the Town of Fort Frances; and
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with Mark Nagant for operation of concessions in the Memorial Sports Centre.
